President Bola Tinubu has called on university workers across Nigeria to embrace peace and engage in negotiations with the government rather than resorting to strikes. The President made this plea during the 39th convocation ceremony at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, as the threat of industrial action looms over the nation’s universities.
Several unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), are reportedly preparing to go on strike. The unions are demanding the payment of their withheld salaries from the 2022 strike and the implementation of agreements made with the government in 2009.
In his address, which was delivered by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, Tinubu urged the unions to engage in meaningful dialogue with the government. He emphasized his administration’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerian universities remain open for learning and do not experience further disruptions.
“My government is committed to an uninterrupted academic calendar. Let me, therefore, appeal to the staff members of the nation’s universities to always give peace a chance,” Tinubu said, stressing the importance of maintaining peace for the development and prosperity of the country.
He added that the government had already made significant strides towards addressing the concerns of university workers. This included the payment of four months’ worth of previously withheld salaries for academic staff and a directive for the payment of withheld wages for non-teaching staff, despite the “no work, no pay” policy.
The President also announced a key policy change, stating that university staff salaries would no longer be paid through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), a decision made in response to ongoing demands from university unions.
In addition to addressing staff concerns, Tinubu encouraged students to take advantage of government initiatives, such as the Nigerian Education Loans Fund (NELFUND), designed to provide financial support amid rising economic challenges.
The convocation event also saw the University of Ilorin awarding degrees to over 12,000 students. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, encouraged graduates to continue their pursuit of knowledge in order to compete globally. He reminded them that education is just the beginning of their journey to making significant contributions to society.
